Mayor Newsletter

Significant City Council Actions

June 1, 2023 – Regular Session

Motion: Mayor Cutchen moved that the committee recommend to the city council that once the FY22-23 financials has been closed out and the FY 21-22 audit is finalized, they reconvene the budget committee to draft a supplemental budget for consideration and if it needs to be

drafted. Councilor Tarman seconded the motion. Vote: Coker (aye), Hooker (aye), Kinyon (aye), Mayor Cutchen (aye), Hollett (aye), Tarman (aye). Motion passed 6-0

Motion: Mayor Cutchen moved that the committee recommend to the city council that the Public Safety Fee [PSF] remain at $22 per month for FY23-24 but be added to the water bill and payments be credited in the following order: public safety fee, stormwater, wastewater, and water. Councilor Tarman seconded the motion. Vote: Kinyon (nay), Coker (nay), Hollett (nay), Mayor Cutchen (aye), Hooker (nay), Tarman (aye). Motion failed 2-5

*Comment: Even though the budget [and the Public Safety Fee] passed on 6/29 by an overwhelming majority, the city council by the above vote makes the PSF largely unenforceable. I consider this action a disservice to those citizens who scrupulously pay the fee each month to maintain our Public Safety services.

Motion: Mayor Cutchen moved that we approve Resolution 11-2023 adopting the approved fiscal year 2023-2024 budget in the amount of $11,691,828.00 and making the associated appropriations and imposing and categorizing taxes. Councilor Tarman seconded the motion.

Councilor Kinyon-asked about the missing columns in the budget that the budget committee worked on. Colleen- explained why they aren’t there, she talked to the Department of Revenue and they are not required to be on there.

Mayor Cutchen-he would like to see the numbers that the budget committee did, he would like to have that column in its original conditional. All they want to see is the proposed budget.

Mayor Cutchen -withdrew his motion.

Motion: Councilor Kinyon moved that we have the proposed budget column updated with what was actually proposed to us and brought back to council on June 15. Councilor Coker seconded the motion. Vote: Hooker (aye), Tarman (aye), Coker (aye), Mayor Cutchen (aye), Kinyon (aye). Motion passed 5-0

Motion: Councilor Tarman moved that we approve Resolution 12-2023 certifying that the City of Oakridge provides at least 4 of the public services required to receive state shared revenues. Councilor Coker seconded the motion. Vote: Mayor Cutchen (aye), Coker (aye), Kinyon (aye), Tarman (aye), Hooker (aye). Motion passed 5-0

Motion: Councilor Kinyon moved that we approve Resolution 12-2023 certifying that the City of Oakridge provides at least 4 of the public services required to receive state shared revenues read by title only. Councilor Hooker seconded the motion. Vote: Mayor Cutchen (aye), Kinyon (aye), Tarman (aye), Coker (aye), Hooker (aye). Motion passed 5-0

Motion: Councilor Tarman move that we approve Resolution 13-2023, declaring the City’s election to receive State Shared Revenues during Fiscal Year 2023-2024. Councilor Kinyon seconded the motion. Vote: Coker (aye), Tarman (aye), Mayor Cutchen (aye) Hooker (aye) Kinyon (aye). Motion passed 5-0

Motion: Councilor Tarman move that we approve Resolution 13-2023, declaring the City’s election to receive State Shared Revenues during Fiscal Year 2023-2024 read by title only. Councilor Coker seconded the motion. Vote: Mayor Cutchen (aye), Hooker (aye), Coker (aye), Kinyon (aye), Tarman (aye). Motion passed 5-0

 

June 15, 2023 – Regular Session

Motion: Councilor Kinyon moved to direct our City Administrator to ensure that we receive our monthly finance report every month on the second meeting, including the statement of revenue and expenditures, including an updated actual received PSF dollar amount and including a check register report. Councilor Hollett seconded the motion. Vote: Kinyon (aye), Coker (aye), Tarman (aye), Hollett (aye), Hooker (aye), Bjarnson (aye), Mayor Cutchen (aye). Motion passed 7-0

Motion: Councilor Hooker moved to approve the consent agenda. Councilor Coker seconded the motion. Vote: Hooker (aye), Bjarnson (aye), Tarman (aye), Mayor Cutchen (aye), Coker (aye), Hollett (aye), Kinyon (aye). Motion passed 7-0

Motion: Councilor Kinyon move to direct the CA to accept the offer to purchase the vacant land at 76410 Douglas Street, subject to a Public Hearing. Councilor Tarman seconded the motion. Vote: Bjarnson (aye), Mayor Cutchen (aye), Coker (aye), Kinyon (aye), Tarman (aye), Hooker (aye), Hollett (aye). Motion passed 7-0

Motion: Councilor Tarman moved to tentatively accept the offer to purchase OIP Lot 20 for $30,000, subject to USDA approval and a future Public Hearing. Councilor Hooker seconded the motion. Vote: Coker (aye), Tarman (aye), Mayor Cutchen (aye), Hooker (aye), Hollett (nay), Kinyon (aye), Bjarnson (aye). Motion passed 6-1

Motion: Councilor Kinyon moved to direct the CA to continue negotiations for the purchase of OIP Lot 19. Councilor Hooker seconded the motion. Vote: Hooker (aye), Mayor Cutchen (aye), Tarman (aye), Coker (aye), Kinyon (aye), Bjarnson (aye), Hollett (aye). Motion passed 7-0

Motion: Councilor Kinyon moved to direct the CA to accept the offer to purchase the Old Public Works Building, located at 47899 Hwy 58, subject to a future Public Hearing. Councilor Hooker seconded the motion. Vote: Hooker (aye), Bjarnson (aye), Tarman (aye), Mayor Cutchen (aye), Coker (aye), Hollett (aye), Kinyon (aye). Motion passed 7-0

Motion: Councilor Kinyon moved to defer this to a work session and to email Rick Zylstra with any questions in advance. Councilor Hooker seconded the motion. Vote: Coker (aye), Hooker (aye), Kinyon (aye), Mayor Cutchen (aye), Hollett (aye), Bjarnson (aye), Tarman (aye). Motion passed 7-0

Motion: Councilor Kinyon moved to allow Inbound LLC to camp at OIP Lot 37 for $100 month through the end of the 2023 fire season and to provide insurance for the lot. Councilor Hooker seconded the motion. Vote: Bjarnson (aye) Mayor Cutchen (nay), Coker (aye), Kinyon (aye), Tarman (aye), Hooker (nay), Hollett (aye). Motion passed 5-2

Motion: Councilor Tarman moved that we approve the 1st reading of Res 11-2023 adopting the approved fiscal year 2023-2024 budget in the amount of $11,691,828.00 and making the associated appropriations and imposing and categorizing taxes.

Councilor Hooker seconded the motion. Vote: Coker (nay), Tarman (aye), Mayor Cutchen (aye), Kinyon (nay), Bjarnson (aye), Hooker (aye). Motion passed 4-2

Motion: Councilor Tarman moved that we schedule a special session for the 2nd reading of resolution 11-2023 on June 29th, 2023. Mayor Cutchen seconded the motion. Vote: Hollett(aye), Coker (aye), Tarman (aye), Mayor Cutchen (aye), Kinyon (aye), Bjarnson (aye), Hooker (aye). Motion passed 7-0

Comment: The special session was held on 6/29 and the budget resolution passed. I will provide a summary of the motions in the July newsletter.

Motion: Councilor Hollett moved to approve the reading of Ord. 940, an Ordinance amending Oakridge Code Chapter 130 to adopt a fireworks ban and other restrictions during declared “extreme” fire danger conditions effective immediately. Councilor Hooker seconded the motion. Vote: Hooker (aye), Hollett (aye), Tarman (nay), Mayor Cutchen (nay), Kinyon (aye), Bjarnson (aye). Motion passed 4-2

*Comment: Your city council has chosen to risk the lives of their constituents by not banning ALL fireworks when the fire danger is at the most extreme levels, offering a tragically flawed rationale that professional fireworks demonstrations are immune from mistakes and the city will have fire protection services onsite (a reactive approach, not a proactive one). There are other enjoyable and safer ways to celebrate our great nation’s Independence Day without pyrotechnics during times of extreme fire risk.

* The official city position is determined by a majority vote on a motion. Comments reflects my opinion and the reasoning behind my opposition to the decision made, however I will support the majority decision.

Budget Update

The City Council adopted the budget on 6/29. I also sponsored a motion, which also passed, to reconvene the Budget Committee once the fiscal year 2022 audit has been finalized and the fiscal year 2023 finances have been closed out. The concern is the opening balance estimate in the General Fund in this budget is inflated and provide an overly optimistic view of the city’s financial condition. In any case, we know the General Fund operates at a significant deficit, a practice which is unsustainable. Having the audit and end-of-year financial report in hand will provide a much clearer picture of what changes need to be made through a supplemental budget.

Fire Danger Raised from Low to Moderate

The Willamette National Forest official raised the fire danger to high as of July 4, 2023.

 Upcoming Meetings

RTMP/TRT Committee – 7/11

Charter Review – 7/12 6pm

Council Work Session- 7/13 6pm

Wildfire Safety Night- 7/14 5pm

WAC Adv. – 7/17 5:30pm

OEDAC – 7/18 5:00pm

City Council – 7/20 6pm

Audit Committee -7/24 5pm

Public Safety – 7/25 6pm